Apparatus for gasifying liquid fuel



Jan. 19, 1932. P. M. cABELL 1,841,362

APPARATUS FOR GASIFYING LIQUID FUEL Griginal Filed Aug. 5, 192.4 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV To fATroRNEY Jan. 19,1932. M CABELL 1,841,362

K, APPAATUS FOR GASIFYING LIQUID FUEL original Filed Aug. 5, 1924 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR LLATTRNEY Jan. 19, 1932. P. M. cABELL 1,841,362

APPARATUS FOR GASIFYING LIQUID FUEL Original Filed Aug. 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR GASIFYING LIQUID FUEL Original Filed Aug. 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented dan. 19, 1932 Partir MASON cum, or' maw Yoan, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR GABIFYING LIQUID FUEL Application tiled August 5, 1924, Serial No. 730.324. Renewed June 4, 1981.

This invention relates to apparatus for gasifying liquid fuel. The invention embodies improvements on the apparatus shown in my application Serial No. 652,011, filed July 17, 1923, and the apparatus of the present invention is intended especially for practicing the method disclosed in my said earlier application, although features of the present invention may be found useful for other pui 1G poses.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus \for converting liquid fuel into permanent gas in accordance with the method of my said earlier application and to provide an apparatus which shall be highly eiicient in operation and shall be of relatively simple and economical construction and such that the interior parts thereof Shall be readily accessible as for inspection 29 or renewal. l

The invention comprises structural improvements in the converter casing, improved means for supporting the superposed spaced permeable beds 'of refractory material Within the converting chamber, and means for securing a better distribution of the oil or other liquid fuel entering the converting chamber. The invention also comprises other features, all of which will be fully disclosed 3U and specifically pointed out in the claims.

As a full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detailed description of an approved construction embodying the various features of the invention in connection with drawings illustrating such an approved embodiment, such a description will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which:--

f Fig. 1 is a central sectional elevation of the converter taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of .the upper part of the converter taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 3, in a plane at right angles to the sectional plane of Fig. 1;

4 Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the converter; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the trays 5u for supporting a bed of refractory material;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the'tra'y shown in Fig. 5 taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, on a larger scale;

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal 'sectional view of the l; I

cap piece taken on line V8--8 of Fig. 1, on a larger Scale;

0 Fig. 9 is a fra entary horizontal sectional view taken on lme 9-9 of Fig. 1 on a plane extending through the throat of the Venturi 00 inlet tube; and

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the fuel'distributor.

Referring to the drawin s, the converter as shown is of vertical cylin rical form having 66 a cylindrical insulating outer casing, a c lmdrical pot within the casing open at t e bottom and with ,Y its wall spaced from the casing wall, horizontal trays arranged Within the pot to carry refractory material forming 7 permeable beds or bales leaving a tortuous passage for the gases flowing downward through the pot, an inlet opening in the top ofthe casing through which the oil or other liquid fuel to be gasied enters the pot and also air and steam in controlled quantities, and an outlet for the gas opening from the upper part of the annular space between the casing wall and the pot.

The side walls of the converter cas' are 80 formedby an outer shell 10 and an inner shell 11 of sheet metal of relative diameter such as to leave a cylindrical Space between them, which space is filled with insulating material 12. The Shells 10 and 11 are sup- ,85 ported by a bottom casting formed to provide an inner flan ed bottom plate13 forming the bottom of' the converting chamber and an annular vertically extending flange or wall 14 spaced from the flange of the bot- 9 tom plate 13 and connected thereto by webs 15, the bottom of the inner shell 11 being connected to the flange of the bottom plate 13, and the bottom of the shell 10 being connected to the outer flange 14. A late 16 closes the bottom of the casting an the insulating filling 12 fills the s ace between the bottom plate 13 and the ange 14 and plate 16. Legs 17 are bolted to the flange 14 by bolts extending through vertical slots 10 in the le the legs i the surface on whlch the converter is standing is not exactly horizontal.

A drain opening is provided in the bottomv ofthe casing from which leads a drain pipe 18 provided with a drain cock 19. An annular casting 20 extendin between the shells 10 and 11 forms the top o the side walls and extends inward from the inner shell to provide a support for the ot.

A removable top wal or cover rests on and is bolted to the annular casting 20. It comprises a cover casting 25 having an outer vertical ange 26, and a top plate 27 which rests on the flange 26 leaving a space between the plate and the cover casting within the flange which is filled with insulating "material 12a. The cover casting is forme with a central collar 28` which extends upward about a central opening, the walls of the opening being inclined downwardly and inwardly to form a seat for a nozzle piece 30, the opening through which is in the form of a short Venturi tube which provides the inlet opening through which the air `enters the converting chamber. A removable cap 31 is bolted 'to the collar 28. This cap is formed by a casting having an inner flange 32, by which the cap is supported on the upper edge of thecollar 28, and an outer ange 33 which extends down to meet the edge of the plate 27, the space between the flanges being desirably filled with insulating material as shown. Air enters the space within the inner flange 32 from a supply pipe 35 through a passage 36 extending between -the cap flanges. The flow of air into the converting chamber is controlled by a shutter valve comprising a fixed shutter plate 37 clamped between the collar 28 and the cap sleeve 32, and a movable shutter plate 38 mounted on a rotatable hollow stem 39 which extends through a central opening in the top of the cap '31 and is provided outside the cap with an operating handle 40.

rlhe gas delivery pipe 41 through which the gas leaves the converting chamber leads to'a suction device, which may be an internal lcombustion engine as shown in my said application Serial No. 652,011. The suction through the pipe 41 produces a sub-atmospheric pressure within the converting chamber and this causes air to be drawn into the chamber through the regulating valve and Venturi inlet 30.

The liquid fuel is supplied from a oat chamber 45 through a pipe 46 to an annular passage 47 formed in the body of the Venturi tube 30 and from which a series of orifices 48 open into the throat of the venturi. Because of the reduced pressure and increased flow velocity of the iniowing air as it passes through the throat of the venturi, a suction is created 'through these inlet orifices whereby the fuel liquid is sucked into the Venturi tp 'permit of ad'ustment of` throat at a rate proportional to the amountY of air passing through the throat. Liquid fuel, such as oil, is supplied to the float chamber 45 through a supply pi e 49 from any suitable source of sup l he fuel level in the float chamber is lifelbw the level of the Venturi orifices and the liquid passes through an outlet opening 50 and past an adjustable valve 51 to the intake pipe 46. The valve 51 serves for adjustin the proportionate amount of fuel cause to flow into the convertin chamber by the inducing action of the in owing air.

It is of great importance in securing uniform and most eiiicient operation of the converter that the liquid fuel which enters the converting chamber through the Venturi inlet shall be well and uniformly distributed as it enters the chamber for securin a better initial vaporization of the liquid uel and a suitable distribution over the to baiiie bed of such of the fuel as reaches suc baiile bed before vaporization. For this purpose, I provide at the top of the converting chamber directly beneath the lower, or discharge, end of the Venturi tube and extendin outward and downward therefrom a liquidT fuel distributing device, and I also form the inner surface of the expanding portion or discharge cone of the Venturi tube seas to direct the fuel entering from each of the inlet orifices 48 to a particular portion 0r sector of the distributor. I [ind that the liquid fuel passing through the inlet orifices into the throat of thev venturi under the inducing action of the infiowing air is not projected in the form of jets into the air current but rather tends to flow down along the wall of the expanding portion of the venturi. Some of the liquid, the amount depending on the character of the liquid and the flow velocity and pressure reduction of the air stream and the shape of the venturi, may be taken up by the air stream in the Venturi, tube, but the greater part flows downward as a liquid. For directing the downwardly fiowing liquid I form grooves 55 in the inner surface of the venturl, a groove extending downward from each inlet orifice. These grooves direct the flow of the liquid from each orifice to a particular point of discharge at the lower end of the venturi. From the disch arge end of the Venturi tube the liquid fuel falls on to the distributor.

The distributor 56 is formed to provide an upper frusto-conical or outwardly and downwardly inclined distributing surface, the distributor being circular in shape of a diameter substantially lessthan the diamey tributing pass on into the converting chamber throu the central opening of the distributor. he upper edge of the dissurface is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the discharge end of the Venturi. tube so that liquid fuel falllng from the ends of the grooves 55 will fall on the distributin surface. The distributing surface is divided by radial ribs 58 into a plurality of equal sectors, one to receve the liquid from each of the rooves 55.- For the purpose of causing the liquid falling on each sector of the distributing surface to be (11stributed over the surface of the sector as it Hows outward thereon, each sector is formed at its inner upper end with a depression a and beyond this depression the surface is divided by radial grooves b into a plurallty, three as shown, of equal flow-ways. These grooves Z) extend for a short distance, each ending in a slight depression, and beyond each groove b the portion of the distributing surface extending radially therefrom is .divided by grooves c into a plurality, three as shown, of radial flow-ways, each of which receives a portion of the liquid from the flowway Z). The liquid falling from each of the Venturi Grooves 55 on to one of the sectors of the distributing surface will, therefore, as it Hows downward be distributed to the several grooves or flow-ways c. The flow-ways c are 'of varying length, terminating at varying distances from the axis of the distributor so that liquid will fall from the distributor at varying distances from the axis thereof. Holes 59 are aso provided extending through Venturi tubesmaly i the distributor for discharging liquid in a zone or area within that in which the liquid from the ends of the shortest flow-ways c is discharged.

The distributor may be made of metal or other suitable material and is most desirably made with a relatively thin wall so as to provide beneath it a flaring space for the discharge of the air from the Venturi tube and to give as much free space for distribution of the air and steam beneath the distributor as possible.

The pot or inner casing 60 within which the baffling beds of refractory materials are supported, is hung from the top annular casting 20, and may be formed of sheet metal or otherwise formed of suitable metal or other suitable material and has an outwardly extending flange 6l at its upper edge which lies on the upper surface of the casting 20 and is clamped between such surface and the cover casting 25. A gasket 62 is also provided be* tween the annular casting 20 and the cover cast-ing in order to insure a gas-tight` joint. The inner casing or pot is open at its lower end except for a narrow inwardly extending supporting flange 63 and extends down to within a short distance of the bottom plate 13.

The permeable baille 65, formed most desirabl of layers or beds of broken porous and a sorbentrefractory material, are supported on trays 66 and 67 having foraminous ottoms which may be formed of netting of suitable metal. It is desirable in order to permit renewal of the broken refractory material in the trays, and renewal of the trays themselves when necessary, that the pot may be readily removed from the converting chamber and that the trays shall be separately removable. The pot in the construction shown is readily removable by. simply lifting it out when the top wall of the con verter casing has been removed. The trays are so formed in units that the bottom one rests on the flange 63 at the bottom of the pot and each successive tray rests upon and is supported by the one beneath it. Each tray unit comprises an outer annular wall 7() and an annular flange piece 71 which lits within the upper edge of and is riveted or otherwise secured to the Wall 70, and which extends above t-he upper edge of the wall 70. The foraminous bottom 7 2 is supported from the wall by means of parallel tubular bars 73 and short tubular bars 74. The bars 73 are secured to the wall 70 by means of pins 75 which extend through the wall and into the ends of the bars. The bar`74 extend tach from one of the bars 73 to the wall 70 and each is connected to the wall 7 0 by a pin 75 extending through the wall and into the bar, and to its bar 73 by means of a pin 76 extending'into the bar and having its outer end formed in a hook or eye extending about the bar 73. The annular walls 70 of the several trays are of the same diameter and of such diameter as to fit freely within the pot 60. The wall of the bottom tray rests on the supporting flange 63. The bottom of the wall 7 0 of the next tray rests on the top of the Awall 70 of the bottom tray with the flange 7l of the bottom tray extending up within it, thereby holding the two trays se-y curely in alignment. Successive trays are supported in the same manner each on the one next below, and a slightly Haring annular deiiecting wall 77 is provided to rest on the top of the wall 7 O of the uppermost tray and fitting closely against the wall ofthe pot at its upper edge. This deflecting wall section 77 prevents the passage of gases into the space between the walls 70 and the top wall.

On the uppermost tray 66 and on each alternate tray 66 the refractory material covers the tray except for an unobstructed annular space adjacent the outer wall of the tray, the material being conned and this free space provided by means of an annular vertical wall 78 resting on the tray bottom. On the other alternate trays 67 the refractory material extends clear out to the outer tray wall,` butV an annular vertical wall 79 of relatively small diameter set centrally on lCO the tray bottom holds back the refractory material andprovides an unobstructed central opening through the bed. There is thus provided a series of permeable bales so arranged as to leave a free but tortuous ow passage of non-uniform cross-section from tl'gle top to the'bottom of the converting chamr. Steam is supplied to the converting chamber from any suitable source through a supply pipe 80 leading to a needle valve 81 mounted on the upper end of the hollow stem 39. From this valve the stem dpasses through the stem 39 and is discharge into the converting chamber from a nozzle pipe 82. The nozzle pipe extends from the hollow stem 39 down through the Venturi tube, the discharge end of the pipe being desirably somewhat below the lower or discharge end of the Venturi tube. The nozzle pipe is threaded at its upper end and screwed into the lower end of the hollow stem 39 so that it ma be readily detached and replaced by one o different external diameter in the part passing through the throat of the venturi, if this is desired for the purpose of changmg the effective area of the\Venturi throat.

During the operation of the converter a high temperature is maintained in the converting chamber by combustion of a 'part of the fuel therein. For starting the converter, a preliminary heating means is provided similar to that shown in my said application Serial No. 652,011. Such means is formed to provide a conduit 90 leading in from outside the converter casin to openings in the wall of the pot 60 and 1n the tray wall 70 between the uppermost tray and the one beneath it, and such means comprises a casting or other metal body or structure 91 set in an opening in the outer casing of the converter and secured to the inner casing wall or shell 11 by screw bolts extending through the shell 11 into a iilling block 92 fitted and filling the space between the shell 11 and the wall of the pot 60. The casting 91 is formed to provide an open through passage forming part of the conduit 90 and a registering opening is formed through the inner shell 11 and block 92. The casting is formed with a bottom recess in which is placed a body of absorbent refractory material, or wick, 93 to which liquid fuel is supplied from a cup 94 which receives fuel when desired from a pipe 95 provided with a valve 96. A slide valve 97 is provided for closing or opening the conduit outside the body of absorbent material 93. The valve slides horizontally and is of downwardly tapering form sage forming a continuation of the conduit 90, a lamp or small receptacle 99 for holding fitting in a downwardly tapering slot/formed a small quantity of liquid fuelan upwardly directed chimne 100, and a shutter 101 normall closing t e extreme outer end of the con uit 90. A check valve 102 is provided within the conduit formed of two plates extending at an angle to each other, the valve being hinged within the conduit in such manner that the outer plate normally extends across the conduit resting against a stop 103, while the inner plate is inclined inwardly. u The outer plate has an opening 104 through which the flame from the igmting lamp 99 may be drawn inward. In case of an accidental rise in pressure in the pot, the as starting to flow out throu h the con uit swings the valve so as to ring the inner valve plate across the conduit and against the stop 103, thus quickly closing the valve and preventing the outflow of gas and liame/ through the conduit.

For indicating the temperature of the produced gas as it rises through the space between the outer casing and the pot 60, a pyrometer 105 is provided having a rod 106 extending downward in the space between the casing and the pot. To permit observation of conditions within the pot during the o raf tion of the converter, peep holes 107 an 108 are provided formed by tubes provided with glass closures in the usual manner and extending one through the top or cover wall of the casing to give a view of conditions above the uppermost baiile, and the other throu h the side wall of the casing for viewing con itions between the uppermost baille and the one next below.

In starting the converter, the lamp 99 is lighted through the cover 101 which is then closed, and the valve 97 is open. Suction is applied to the gas delivery pipe 41, and the 'air valve 38 and the fuel valve 51 being closed and the steam shut off, air is drawn lnto the pot through the conduit 90. This current of air sucks flame from the lamp 99 into the conduit and ignites the fuel in the wick 93, and the relatively large llame -from this wick is drawn into the space between the two uppermost batlles. As this upper part of the pot becomes well heated, the air valve 38 and the fuel valve 51 are partly opened and a litttle steam may be admitted by opening the needle valve 81. The li uid fuel drawn in through the Venturi tube 1s vaporized and ignited by the flame from the wick 93 and the heating up of the converting chamber then becomes more rapid, and when the temperature within the chamber is suiiicient to maintain combustion without requiring the iiame from the wick 93 the supply of oil to therwick may be cut olf and the slide valve 97 closed. 125 As the temperature increases, more fuel is admitted until the desired or normal rate of supply of fuel is reached, and as the temperature rises the needle valve 81 is also opened so as to admit suicient steam to prevent cuombustionfrom taking place above the uppermost bale. During this heatmg up a greater amount of air may be admitted thanis required for maintalning temperature within the pot after the desired operating temperature has been once reached. When the desired operatin Atem erature has been reached, as indicate by t e pyrometer, the air valve is set s'o as to permit only suiclent combustion of the fuel within the chamber to maintain the desired temperature. The

. production of gas may then be continued for steam to the converting chamber should be adjusted according to variations in the amount of fueland air entering the converting chamber and the resulting amount of gas reduced.

-While l do not wish to limit myself to any theory as to the operation of the converter in producing gas, I believe the operation to be as stated in my said application Serial No. 652,011.

The better distribution of the liquid fuel as it enters the converting chamber from the Venturi tube 30 secured bythe distributing means of the present invention results in a I more efficient operation of the converter under all conditions. The quantity of the evaporating material, that is, the porous absorbent refractory material of the baffles 65,

uired is reduced, as well as the size and weight of the converter. Such distributing means also has the additional advantage that when the converter is used, as on a boat, for example, where it does not at all times stand vertically, the tendency of any tilting of the converter to cause uneven distribution of the entering fuel, causing it to be delivered mostly to one side or another of the converting chamber, is practicall eliminated. Under such conditions, the ow-directing grooves of the Venturi tube insure the desired distribution of the liquid to thedistributor, and the distributor delivers the liquid from each of the directing grooves of the Venturi tube to a desired portion of the uppermost baiile, the downward slant of the distributing surface of the distributor being suiicient to cause outward flow of the liquid on all sectors or portions thereof even though the converter be tilted to a considerable angle.

It is apparent that the interior of the converting chamber is readily accessible by merely removing the cover casting 25 and the parts carried thereby. The inner casing or potmay then be lifted out bodily with its aille trays, and the baffle trays maybe lifted one after the other from the pot either when so removed from the converting chamber or without removing the pot from the converting chamber. Refractory material on the trays may thus be' readily renewed when desired o r changes made in the amount of refractory material used or the relative arrangement of the trays.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, an inlet passage through the topof the casing having the form of a Venturi tube set with its discharge end directed downward, means for causing a current of air to flow through the inleiJ passage into the converting'chamber, means for supplying liquid fuel to the Venturi tube, the surface of-the discharge cone of the Venturi tube being formed to direct the flow of liquid downward thereon, and a distributor directly beneath the discharge end of the Venturi tube having a downwardly and outwardly inclined-surface provided with How-directing means for directing the flow of liquid radially outward thereon.

2. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, an air inlet passage through the top of the casing having the form of a Venturi tube set with its discharge end directed downward and provided with a circumferentially arranged series of fuel inlet openings for supplying liquid fuel to the Venturi tube, the surface of the discharge cone of the Venturi tube being formed to direct the flow of liquid from each said opening downward therefrom, and a distributor' directlyl beneath the discharge end of the Venturi tube to receive the liquid fuel having an outwardly and downwardly inclined distributing surface provided with fiow directing means for directing the iow of liquid radially outward thereon. l

3. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, an air inlet passage through the top of the casing having the form of a Venturi tube set with its discharge end directed downward and provided with a circumferentially arranged series of fuel inlet openings for supplying liquid fuel to the Venturi tube, the surface of the discharge cone of the Venturi tube being formed to direct the flow of liquid from each said opening downward thereon, and distributing means for distributing theV fuel from each said opening as it drops from the end of the Venturi tube.

4. Apparatus for converting li uid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, a fuel distributor at the top of the converting chamber havingv an .outwardly and downwardly in- .clined distributing surface divided by radial ribs into sectors and means for su in Pf g lfuel liquid to each sector of the distri uting surface, the surface of each sector being formed to cause the liquid flowing outwar thereon to spread laterally and to fall therefrom at various distances from the center of provide a converting chamber, a conical fuel distributor at the top of the converting chamber having an outwardly and downwardly inclined distributing surface formed with a cirrcularly arranged series of depressions and a plurality of grooves extending radially outward from each depression, and means for 'ng fuel liquid to-each depression. pparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a convertingchamber, an air inlet passage through the top of the casing having theform of a Venturi tube set with its discharge end directed downward and provided with a circumferentially arranged series of fuel inlet orifices opening to the throat of the Venturi tube, the surface ofthe discharge cone of the Venturi tube being formed with dow-directing grooves leading from said orifices to the discharge end of the tube, and a distributor directly beneath the discharge end of the Venturi tube to receive the fuel falling from the end of the discharge cone of the Venturi tube, said distributor having a central opening for the flow of air from the Venturi tube into the converting chamber and having an outwardly and downwardly inclinedA radially grooved distributing surface.

7. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, an air inlet passage through the top of the casing having the form of a Venturi tube set with its d1s charge end directed downward and provided Awith a-circumferentially arranged series of fuel inlet orifices opening to the throat of the Venturi tube, the surface of the discharge cone of-the Venturi tube being formed with How-directing grooves leading from sald orifices to the discharge end of the tube, a distributor directly beneath the discharge end of the Venturi tube to receive the fuel falling from the end of the discharge cone of the Venturi tube, said distributor having a central opening for the flow of air from the Venturi tube into the converting chamber and having an outwardly and downwardly inclined radially grooved distributing surface, and a steam inlet pipe extending into the Venturiv tube to discharge steam through the central opening of said distributor.

8. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a caslng formed to provide a converting chamber, air inlet the form of a Venturi tube set with its dis.- charge end directed downward and provided with a circumferentially arranged series of fuel inlet orifices opening to the throat of the opassage through the top of the casing having Venturi tube, and a distributor directly beneath the discharge end of the Venturi tube surface of each sector being formed to cause.

the li uid flowing outward thereon to spread latera ly and to fall therefrom at various distances from the center of -the distributor.

9. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, an air inlet passage through the top of the casing having the form of a Venturi tube set with its discharge end directed downward and provided with a circumferentially arranged series' of fuel inlet` orifices opening to the throat of the Venturi tube, and a distributor directly beneath the discharge end of the Venturi tube to receive the fuel falling from the end 'of the discharge cone of the Venturi tube, said distributor having a central opening for the flow of air from the Venturi tube into the vconverting chamber and having an outwardly and downwardly inclined distributing surface formed with a circula-rly arranged series of depressions and a plurality of grooves extending radially outward from each depression.

10. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, an air inlet passage through the top of the casing having the form of a Venturi tube set with its dis'- charge end directed downward and provided with a circumferentially arranged series of fuel inlet orifices opening to the throat of the Venturi tube, and a distributor directly bef neath the discharge end of the Venturi tube to receive the fuel falling from the end of the dischar e cone of the Venturi tube, said distributor aving a central opening for the flow of air from the Venturi tube into the converting chamber and having an outwardly and downwardly inclined distributing surface divided by radial ribs into sectors, the

surface of each sector being formed with a' depressed portion and a plurality of grooves extending radially outward from thev depressed portion and providing flow-ways ending and discharging the liquid at various distances from the center.

11. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, a plurality lli) of baies of porous absorbent refractory ma# Venturi tu terial arranged within the chamber in superposed spaced relation so as to leave a free tortuous downward flow passage through the chamber, an air inlet passage .through the top of the casing having the form of a Venturi tube Aset wi/thits discharge end directed downward and provided with a pluralit of fuel inlet orifices opening to the throat o the Venturi tube, the surface of the discharge cone of the Venturi tube being formed with flow directing grooves leading from said orifices to the discharge end of the tube, and distributing means in the converting chamber directl beneath the discharge end o f the be to receive the fuel from the ends of said grooves.'

12. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber, a plurality of baiiles of porous absorbent refractory material arrangedwithin the chamber in superposed spaced relation so as to leave a free tortuous downward flow passage through the chamber, an air inlet passage through the top of the casing having the form of a Venturi tube set with its discharge end directed toward the -uppermost baflie, a gas outlet adapted to have suction applied thereto to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure within the chamber and to draw the gas therefrom, the oil inlet passage being provided with a circumferentially arranged series of fuel inlet orifices opening to the throat of the Venturi tube, a fuel supplyT conduit communicating with said orifices, the surface of the discharge cone of the Venturi tube being formed with flow directing grooves leading from said fuel orifices to the discharge end of the tube, and a distributor in the converting chamber directly beneath the discharge end of the Venturi tube to receive the fuel from the ends of said grooves.

13. A device for supplying a liquid and a gas, comprising a Venturi tube set with its discharge end directed downward and having a circumferentially arranged series of liquid inlet openings and the surface of the discharge cone of the tube being formed with flow directing grooves leading downward from said openings.

14. A device for supplying a liquid and a gas, comprising a Venturi tube set with its axis vertical and its discharge end downward and having a plurality of liquid inlet orifices openingto the throat of the tube, the surface of the discharge cone of the Venturi tube being formed with flow-directing grooves leading downward from the orifices.

15. A device for supplying a liquid and a gas, comprising a Venturi tube set with its axis vertical and its discharge end downward and having a plurality of liquid inlet orifices opening to the throat of the Venturi tube and having the surface of its discharge cone formed with flow directing grooves leading downward from the orifices, and a distributor mounted directly below the Venturi tube having a central opening for the flow of gas from the tube and an outwardl and downwardly inclined distributing sur ace divided by radial ribs 'into sectors, the surface of each sector being formed with a depressed portion and a plurality of grooves extending radiallytherefrom.

- 16. A device for supplying a liquid and a gas, comprising a Venturi tube set withits axis vertical and its discharge end downward and having a plurality of liquid inlet orifices opening to the throat of the Venturi tube and having the surface of its discharge cone formed with iiow ydirecting grooves leading downward from the orifices, and a distributor mounted directly belowthe Venturi tube hav ing a central opening for the flow of gas from the tube and an outwardly and downwardly inclined distributing surface divided by radial ribs into sectors, the surface of each sector being formed to cause the liquid flowing outward thereon to spread laterally and to fall therefrom at various distances from thecenter of the distributor.

17. A liquid distributor having an outwardly and downwardly inclined distributing surface divided by radial ribs into sectors, the surface of each sector being formed with a depressed portionvand a plurality of grooves extending radially therefrom.

18. The combination with a casing formed to provide a heating chamber and having a removable cover, of a removable inner casing open at the bottom hung from the top of the main casing and extending downward within the chamber with its wall spaced from the chamber wall and free at the bottom, a series of foraminous trays removably supported within the inner casing in spaced superposed relation, and separate layers of material arranged to leave unaligned openings past the material on successive trays to provide a tortuous flow passage through the chamber, a fuel inlet at the top, and a gas outlet from the top of the annular space between the inner casing and the outer casing.

19. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber and having a removable cover, a series of individually removable foraminous trays supported within the chamber in spaced superposed relation, and separate layers of broken refractory material on said trays, the trays being provided with means for positioning the refractory material in successive trays to leave unaligned, substantially unobstructed openings to provide a tortuous iow passage through the chamber.

20. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising an outer casing formed to provide a converting chamber and lll having a removable cover, a removable inner casing hung within the chamber, a series of indivldually removable foramlnous trays supported within the inner casing in spaced su'- per osed relation and separate layers of o en refractory material on said trays, the trays being provided with means for positioning the refractory material in `successive trays to leave unaligned, substantially unobstructed openings to provide a tortuous flow passage through the chamber.

21. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising an outer case formed to provide a converting chamber and having a'removable cover, a removable Linner casing open at the bottom hung from the topA of the outer casingand extending downward within the chamber with its wall spaced from the chamber Wall and free at the bottom, a series of individually removable foraminous trays supported within .the inner casing in spaced superposed relation, and separate layers of'broken refractory material on said trays, the trays being provided with means for positioning the refractory material to leave unaligned substantially unobstructed openings to provide a tortuous flow passage through the chamber.

22. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber and having a removable cover, a series of trays removably supported Within the chamber in spaced superposed relation, each tray having am outer Wall and a foraminous bottom, the bottom of the outer wall of each successive tray resting on the top of the outer wall of the tray beneath it, and permeable baiiie beds of refractory material on said trays, the trays being provided with means for positioning the refractory material in successive trays so as to leave unaligned, unobstructed openings through the trays to provide a tortuous flow passage through the chamber.

23. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into fixed gas, comprising an outer casing formed to provide a converting chamber and having a removable cover, an inner casing open at the bottom hung within the chamber with its Wall spaced from the chamber wall and removable from the chamber when the cover of the chamber is removed, a series of individually removable trays supported withinthe inner casing in spaced superposed relation, permeable baile beds of refractory material on said trays, retaining walls on the trays for positioning the baffling material to leave an unobstructed outer lspace adjacent the outer wall of alternate trays, and an unobstructed central opening at the center of the other alternate trays, means for supplying liquid fuel and a limited amount of airY to the' top of the converting chamber, and an outlet for the gas.

245. Apparatus for converting liquid fuel into xedgas, comprising a casing formed to provide a converting chamber and having a removable cover, a series of individually removable trays supported Within the chamber in spaced super osed relation, each tray having an outer wa l and a foraminous. bottom supported by tubular bars secured to the tray wall by pins which extend through the wall and into the ends of the bars, the bottom of the outer wall of each successive tray restin on the top of the tray beneath it, permeable aille beds of refractory material on said trays, walls on th trays for positioning the bailling material to leave unalignedp openings past the baffling material on successive trays to provide a tortuous iow passage through the chamber, means for supplying liquid fuel and a limited amount of air to the top of the converting chamber, and an outlet for the gas.

In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set my hand.v

PHILIP MASON CABELL. 

